WINNING GAMES VS. WINNING HEARTS

 

 

Football is the most popular sport in the world and played in almost all countries because it needs least infrastructure and gives most joy, excitement and satisfaction. Though England is the commercial capital of this game with the richest football league, the EPL being played there, Brazil remains the aesthetic capital of the beautiful game. Every time there is a FIFA World Cup though your head may tell you that Germany is the strongest contender, your heart will always want Brazil to win! Have you ever wondered why this is so?

 

Football is played in two styles - the passing game and the dribbling game. The passing game was about possession. Circulate the ball with easy passes, control the game and make the last pass into the back of the net. Many coaches focused on the passing game. Maybe because it was easy to coach or it was proven to work. Barcelona plays possession, after all. Then there was the dribbling game, for players with fancy footwork. Teams with stellar dribblers scored when a player would make a great run with the ball passed the keeper and into the goal. The Brazilians are masters of both the styles. Not only do they pass well and dribble every defender, they also made it look easy and fun.

 

Brazil is a team which plays with spontaneity, irreverence and pure joy and it is this joy that connects them to the football fans across the globe! They have that air of unpredictable brilliance, an artistry bordering the realm of wizardry that makes football fans impatient to see them once again. Such is their reputation for aesthetic elegance and mystique that if Spain or Chile plays to their fullest potential or Pep Guardiola's Barcelona are mesmerizing the fans, the people gush that they are playing Brazilian football!

 

Cricket fans are fiercely patriotic and look down upon rival players almost instinctively. Yet there have been players whose batting elegance transcends all national and league biases. Zaheer Abbas scored heavily against India and Sachin Tendulkar had a special affinity for Pakistani bowlers right from his first test innings but these two players have no dearth of supporters who love them in their rival countries. Batsmen like Don Bradman, Vivian Richards and Virat Kohli are phenomenal and will be respected through ages for their consistency, efficiency and prowess but batsmen like David Gower, Gundappa Vishwanath and Saurabh Ganguli are loved because they are easy to the eye and their batting is poetry in motion! 

 

Unscripted brilliance and flair in a player or a team leads to an everlasting romance with their fans. In a highly competitive sporting world with so much of money at stake, winning has become the most important thing and winning ugly is far more respected than losing beautifully. Pep Guardiola's Barcelona cannot survive by just playing beautifully, they have to win consistently too. And it is this amalgamation of beauty and efficiency which is most challenging. Brazil is not winning and that is a concern, because if for the sake of winning they have to adapt a mechanically efficient German style, football will be the biggest loser. 

 

In sports today success is first, consistency is second and aesthetics is third. This is a very rare sequence which comes once in a while in the history of sports. The Brazilian football team of Pele and later Socrates, Zico, Falcao and Cerezo, and still later Ronaldo and Ronaldinho fitted in this sequence. So do Nadia Comaneci, Roger Federer, Usain Bolt and Barcelona Football Club. Contrast this to Novak Djokovic, Real Madrid and Lewis Hamilton; they are real embodiment of consistency and efficiency and have a fan following too but that romance with the fans is missing. The head has accepted them as the king but the heart simply refuses to do so. They are respected and admired but the adulation and affection which is showered upon Federer and Tendulkar is simply missing.

DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO OUR MOTHER'S LOVE?

 

Is it not a strange coincidence, we seem to insult and abuse every thing we refer to as our 'mother'! Mother nature is at the receiving end of our rampant exploitation and it seems she has lost her cool and taking us to task by tormenting us with earthquake, floods, tsunamis, forest fires, landslides and droughts. Ma Ganga just got tired of self cleansing herself but we kept on polluting her disregarding all rules and regulations. Mother India today stands ashamed with high maternal and infant mortality rates, unequal opportunities and remuneration for her daughters, unrecognised and unappreciated work her daughters do while home making, domestic violence they face at home and communal, caste and sectarian violence in the society and to top it all her one daughter is raped in this land every 16 minutes!

Why am I reminded of all this today? I do so because we are once again celebrating Navaratri, an invocation to Ma Durga, our durgati harini. Not only does she slay the evil Mahishasura but she is the embodiment of Shakti, the energy at the root of creation. Shakti inspired Shiva and it was their union that brought about 'creation', 'preservation' and 'renewal' thus justifying the ultimate image of the creator Ardhnarishwar. If the all powerful Shiva is powerless without Shakti, how can we mortals think of progress and prosperity without respecting their daughters?

For far too long Shakti has been confined inside our temples and limited to our prayers. We have failed to get past feudal patriarchy, skewed sex ratio, caste power play and religious and cultural misogyny. We are unjustifiably putting up behavioural and social barriers around our daughters but not disciplining our sons and not teaching them to behave. If 50% of our population is scared of the remaining lot then how can we prosper?

When Draupadi narrated the horrors of her humiliation in Kuru sabha to Lord Krishna, the avatar of Vishnu vowed to her "The heavens may tumble, the mountains may be razed; the oceans may dry like a corpse's bones; earth herself may rupture, but I shall keep my oath to you. To avenge the crime against you there will be war to end all wars." Lord Krishna not only kept his promise but for Bhishma, the greatest warrior who had the boon of 'iccha mrityu' (he could die when only when he chose to) he arranged a painful bed of arrows for his last days because he kept quiet and did not use his bravery to protect the honour of a woman in the Kuru sabha. Contrast this to the death of Jatayu in Ramayana - old Pakshi raj knew he was no match to Ravana but he fought valiantly to save Sita and died smiling in the lap of Ram, with tears of this Vishnu avatar bidding him farewell.

The society needs to do some serious introspection about how we are treating our Shakti, our daughters and sisters and wives. Rapists are not coming from any other planet. They too have parents and if they see their own mothers and sisters being treated unfairly they think that this is the norm. This has to change. No government, no court and no laws can bring this change. Families have to change and our sisters and daughters have to be educated, confident and self reliant. They have to imbibe the Shakti and bring out the Durga in them to challenge the Mahishashurs both inside and outside their homes and the law of the land should stand firmly by their side. This will be the true Durga Puja and every day will then be as auspicious as Navaratri.

IF WINTER COMES, CAN SPRING BE FAR BEHIND?

 

The pandemic exposed the fault lines of our society like never before. All the story of the forthcoming ‘Acche Din’ (good days) appeared as remote as the farthest planet Pluto as we grappled the mass distress inflicted upon us by the pandemic and the resultant lockdown. We had to make the Hobson’s choice between life and livelihood, and choosing life got too uncomfortable for a vast majority of our suffering countrymen. Seeing some of them walk hundreds of kilometers along our national highways in order to reach their homes was both heart wrenching and shameful. As if this was not enough, dark and ominous clouds of war are still hovering over Northern border, with the cunning red dragon hissing from across the border trying to singe the tranquility in the Himalayan mountains. And to top it all, a total lack of consensus among the political class, constant bickering, nitpicking, scoring brownie points, daily round of invective being hurled at political rivals is sapping any efforts at ameliorating the lot of a suffering populace. Pathetic efforts are underway at cheap competitive populism and credit hunting for cosmetic favours done to a hapless populace with an eye on future electoral gains.

Our country can perhaps face external threats, but the internal dissent and strife across cast and religious fault lines remain a far more potent and sinister threat. The fact that these festering sores are kept raw and bleeding for petty political gains is not unknown to us but we still invariably keep falling prey to these nefarious designs and further weaken our resolve of overcoming them one day. The condition of women and children in our feudal and patriarchal society remains vulnerable and even in these testing times incidence of rapes, domestic violence and child abuse continue to plague our society. But are we talking about these issues with intent to ascertain their aetiology, so that we can address them meaningfully? Surprisingly not; we instead choose to discuss threadbare non issues like some actor’s suicide and some actress’s drug habits!

Our media may choose to ignore the real issues but the society is not.  The situation is surely not normal but that is not always bad. Normal times and status quo situations are good to live in but only lead to stagnation and subsequent decline of morals and standards. This is one rare occasion in our lifetime when the whole world has been stirred out of complacency in the garb of normalcy. 

There is an enormous social churning going on, a samudra manthan which is bound to bring out both amrit/nectar and vish/poison. There are sections of our society who have always deserved a better deal but are clueless because of lack of leadership and options. Political masters have promised them 'seva' or service, but if they were lucky then on rare occasions they were offered 'daya' or pity. Quite justifiably their patience is running out. On the other end of the spectrum are industrialists and entrepreneurs who were promised reforms and encouraging business friendly environment but were burdened with whimsical laws and entangled in administrative confusion. Profit was considered a sin and yet they were expected to generate employment and improve exports. And right in the middle was the ambitious middle class, religiously paying taxes, educating their children and optimistically hoping that their life will get better. Honestly this was our normal, all the sections of our society were surviving at the brink of an illusion of success and the social and economic jolt which this virus has provided has pushed us off that brink and thankfully shattered the illusion. Now why is that so bad?

It is time for a reality check for all of us and the change has started to take shape. By walking back home the unorganised working class has announced their true value and both the government and their previous employers are responding favourably. The industry is forcing the government to make unprecedented land and labour reforms and states after states are responding. It is now up to the middle class to force the government to make the much needed educational reforms in the New Education Policy so that primary, middle and higher education and teacher's training are all modernized and made job oriented.

I am not one of those who lament that the government is doing nothing. The making of toilets to eradicate open defecation, rural roads, rural electrification, rural cooking gas coinnection, housing for the urban and rural poor, insurance for labourers of the unorganized sector and for farmers and the recent agricultural reforms to liberate the farmers from the vice grip of the middlemen are all positive steps and are results of this social churning. The society is forcing the government to deliver, and those who fail to do so are being voted out. Here again there are cunning political turncoats who have patented the art of running with the hare and hunting with the hound, but the electorate today is very wise and unforgiving. When this manthan is eventually over let us expect that the amrit comes to the rescue of the sincere and hard working and the vish goes to their greedy exploiters. After all 'Blessed are the Meek, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven'.

Tomorrow has to be a better day because we have hit the rock bottom. Hope they say dwells Eternal in the Human Heart and as the English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley said 'If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind'!

COLOURS MEAN DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT CULTURES

 

Roses are red, violets are blue, colours should mean the same for me and you! But unfortunately they don’t.  The colours themselves mean different things and bring out different emotions in different cultures and different countries! Blue means I'm sad, and red means I love you! In a blue mood is melancholy personified and expressing love with a red rose is legendary, but not in all cultures!

One of the bonuses of living in a world of color is that all our emotions are evoked by these bright hues we see all across our day to day lives. There is a deeper psychology to the meaning and power of different colors, whether you're looking to decorate your home or office, create astounding works of art, or simply buying someone flowers! 

Much like with all things in this world, colors gain more diverse and specific meanings as you travel across the globe. A color that means sadness on one side of the planet may mean pure joy on the other! A purple scarf would be the perfect gift in America but in Brazil, it could be deeply offensive! In some cultures, white represents innocence, but in others, it can represent death! So colours carry deep meanings with them in every culture. Western, Far Eastern, Middle Eastern, Indian, and African cultures have stark differences in the symbolism of colours within their cultures.

Let's take a quick ride around the globe and see what pictures different cultures paint with all the different colors!

Red

Red symbolizes excitement, energy, passion, action, love, and danger in Western cultures. It's also associated with communism and revolution in countries like Russia and China. In Asian cultures red is a very important colour — it symbolizes good luck, joy, prosperity, celebration, happiness, and a long life. Iranians see it as a symbol of courage and good fortune, and red items in Egypt are considered lucky items! Indians revere the color as one of immense power, representing fire, wealth, beauty, seduction, fear, and even love.This is the colour that is often accompanied by vibrant sounds and some sensual images. What’s there not to like about red?

Well, in African countries red can be associated with death and aggression in their society. It is classed as the colour of mourning in South Africa, while in Russia it is strongly linked to communism. On the South African flag, it represents the sacrifices made in violent efforts to gain independence.  So this is a powerful colour that stokes emotions and needs to be used carefully in any country or culture.

Yellow

When you see the color yellow, your mind goes to sunshine, harvests, warmth, and happy feelings. The people of Egypt similarly associate it with good fortune and joy. In Africa, yellow symbolizes gold and is worn by people of high rank. The yellow is the colour most often associated with the deity in many religions (Hinduism and Ancient Egypt). Yellow in traffic lights and signs indicate caution all over the world. While this is seen as being warm and happy in most Western Cultures, it is the colour of envy in Germany. In France it can be seen as meaning weakness and betrayal. And adult movies in China are termed as “yellow movies”, so don’t be fooled by that term! 

In Egypt yellow signifies happiness and good fortune while in China it is the colour that represents harmony and in Thailand it is a lucky colour. All in all, it is one of the colours that is least likely to upset anyone, unless they hate the Simpsons or are allergic to bananas.

Blue

Blue is the third primary colour. It spiritually signifies the Healing Power of God. It is the most sublime colour which represents biblically, the Word of God. This is another safe choice of brand colour in most parts of the planet. Although it is often associated with sadness, blue doesn’t have many negative cultural connotations in different parts of the world. This is presumably why so many global brands use blue in their logos.

Having said that, Pepsi Cola ran into problems in South East Asia when they changed their vending machines to a light shade of blue that is commonly linked to death and mourning there. However, in other parts of the world it is seen as being a peaceful, healthy colour. It can even repel evil and offer protection in some Arab and Mediterranean cultures, especially in the form of a blue talisman to ward off evil eye curses.

Blue is a color with many meanings in America and other western countries. To have “the blues” is to feel melancholy, but it also represents royalty, as in the term “blue blood”. Across North America, it is meant to represent authority, trust, and security. That representation is shared by Middle Eastern countries, who also relate it to immortality and heaven. While we may associate it with baby boys, China views the color as more feminine. Latin Americans see it as a sign of good health and hope. 

Orange

Mix red and yellow and you get orange, but it has a whole different meaning from its parent colours. This warm colour is sacred in the Hindu religion and also represents fertility in Colombia. It is a particularly powerful tone in Eastern countries, where it is a symbol of love, health and happiness. In Ukraine it is a sign of bravery but in Egypt it brings to mind mourning.

This strong and vivid colour is used in a number of logos and the fact that it is so easily seen and recognised means that it is useful in safety settings and to warn of rising danger levels. Put some orange on screen, add a character voice with some vibrancy and people will pay attention.  Darker shades of the colour are said to bring to mind deceit and distrust, though. Orange represents autumn, harvest, warmth, and visibility in Western cultures. In Hinduism saffron (a soft orange colour) is considered auspicious and sacred. In Eastern cultures orange symbolizes love, happiness, humility, purity and good health. We also associate orange with curiosity and creativity while Japan and China see it as a sign of humility, happiness, and good health, which is likely why Ramkrishna Mission’s monks and Buddhist monks wear orange robes. The royal family of Netherlands as well as the Indian flag bears the color proudly making it a status symbol and national symbol respectively.

Colombians typically associate it with fertility and sexuality. Highly adventurous and extroverted, wearers of orange not only lean toward sexual fantasies but making those fantasies come true! While impulsive and risk-taking, orange also connotes great communication and positive spirit.

Green

We get green by mixing blue and yellow and this represents nature, environment and environmental activism. It is the traditional colour associated with Islam. It is the national colour of Mexico and represents good luck. In western countries, it also represents envy, one of the seven deadly sins, and the dreaded green-eyed monster. On the flip side, the Irish associate it with good luck, Saint Patrick, and leprechauns, and it is one of their national colors. Many Asian countries associate it with new life, health, and prosperity but on the other hand, it can be linked to infidelity in China as well as to jealousy in other cultures. A man wearing a green cap in China suggests to others that his wife may have been unfaithful! Overall, this colour is unlikely to offend in too many places.

Purple

When we mix red and blue we get purple and it combines the stability of blue and passion of red. Americans view purple as a color of honor, and courage - the Purple Heart, in the Armed Forces. In England and France, it is symbolic of royalty, usually seen on regal robes worn by the members of the Royal Family. It is also associated with fame, wealth and richness as the dye was once very rare and expensive, and could only be afforded by the rich and powerful. Purple also represents nobility in most Asian cultures.

Be careful wearing anything purple in Thailand or Brazil, though, because it is a representation of mourning. In fact, in the South American nation, purple is considered appropriate to wear solely at funerals. It is also believed to be colour of sexually deprivation and frustration.

White

The first thing anyone thinks of when they think “white” in a western country is “wedding”, a bride in her beautiful gown, a symbol of purity and elegance. It is also related to calmness and cleanliness. Peru also sees the color very viscerally, associating it with angels, time, and good health. Most Asian countries, however, like China, Korea, and India, relate the color to bad luck, death, and mourning, often being donned at funerals and last rites. A white feather or a white flag can also mean cowardice or surrender too.  

Black

In Western cultures, black has dual implications: on one side, it is associated with formality and sophistication, but on the other side, it's also related to mystery, mourning, and evil. Africans hold black as a symbol of masculinity, maturity, and age. Middle Eastern countries also have varied interpretations of the color, representing mourning on one hand and rebirth on the other. Black is seen bringing bad luck in India and ‘a black day’ is an unfortunate day and ‘blackening of one’s face’ is a sign of disgrace. But strangely mothers put a black smudge on their baby’s temple to ward off evil spirits!

Pink

Pink is a color normally associated with femininity, love, tenderness, and the arrival of a baby girl. In Japan, the color is more frequently associated with men. It is considered as a “foreign color” in China as it was introduced to the country by other cultures, and in Korea, it symbolizes trust. 

Brown

Brown is stable, dependable and wholesome, as association which comes from the colour of grains. In Chinese horoscopes, brown is used to represent earth but in other Eastern and Asian cultures it is associated with mourning.

So why do you think it is important to understand the colours and what they mean to different people and different cultures? It may not only result in a nasty experience for an unsuspected tourist but it may result in huge commercial losses if companies fail to choose the correct colour when they launch their products in foreign markets. A Japanese two wheeler company had to withdraw an entire shipment of scooters from their Indian market because they were black in colour and no one in India was keen to buy an unlucky scooter! So, which colours are best used and which are best avoided in certain places are vitally important to the manufacturers. And you thought colours were only important when you visited a florist to choose flowers for your partner!